Cong MLA sends resignation letter to speaker
Congress legislator Hemaram Choudhary resigned from his state assembly seat on Tuesday.
Choudhary said he had sent his resignation letter to chief minister Ashok Gehlot and assembly speaker CP Joshi, but refused to explain the trigger for the move.
“I have submitted my resignation to the speaker, CP Joshi and CM Ashok Gehlot. I had resigned earlier, but it was not accepted. I have been MLA for two-and-ahalf years, and have done enough politics. I will speak on the reason behind the resignation, once it is accepted,” 73-year-old Choudhary said.
A state assembly official said Choudhary’s resignation was received through email and action will be taken in line with the rules.
Choudhary,, a six-time MLA from Gudamalani in the Barmer district, was among the 19 MLAS who rebelled against Ashok Gehlot in the summer of 2020. Then Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot fronted the revolt that threatened to lead to the exit of the Gehlot government before the Congress leadership brokered Sachin Pilot’s truce with Gehlot.
This is the second time since his election in the December 2018 state polls that Choudhary has sent across his resignation letter.
He had first resigned in 2019 during the first session of the reconstituted assembly, reportedly because he was miffed that Gehlot did not induct him into his council of ministers. He was pacified by senior leaders and later withdrew.
A senior Congress leader said Choudhary has had differences with local leaders and had indicated his unhappiness that his recommendation on issues such as transfer and posting of local officials were not acted upon though requests from other MLAS were accommodated.
Political analyst Manish Godha said he would wait for Choudhary to clarify if local problems led him to send his letter or if his letter was the precursor to another political crisis.